Apparatus for and the method of treating fibrous waste for journal box use



1938- E. s. PEARCE 2,105,094.

h APPARATUS FORAND THE METHOD OF TREATING FIBROUS WASTE FOR JOURNAL BOXUSE Filed Jan. 22, 1934 2 Sheqts-Sheet l FIGr-l INVENTOR EDWIN s. PEARCEATTORNEYS Jan. 11, 1938. E. s. PEARCE APPARATUS FOR AND THE METHOD OFTREATING FI BROUS WASTE FOR JOURNAL BOX USE Filed Jan. 22, 1934 2Sheets-Sheet 2 FlG.-2

INVENTOR EDWIN S. PEARCE ATTORNEYS produced, said fragments being knownas lint.

Patented Jan. 11, 1938 APPARATUS FOR. AND THE METHOD or TREATING muonsWASTE non. 10m

' NAL Box, USE

Edwin's. Pearce, Indianapolis, Ind.,' assignor to Railway Service &Supply Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of IndianaApplication January 22, 1934, Serial No. 707,698

16 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for and the method of treatingfibrous waste for journal box use,the invention relating to thetreatment of both new waste and old waste.

,In the manufacture of waste and in'the use of waste, very smallfragments of the wool or cotton fibres of which the waste is made areThe presence of this lint in waste materially reduces its effectivenessas a carrier of lubricating oil, andits removal is therefore highlydesirable if not actually essential. Likewise, in both new and usedwaste, particularly in the latter, there is usually more or lessmoisture,

" the presence of which in waste is highly objec-' tionable because ofits emulsion-forming properties. Furthermore, old waste contains more orless dirt, cinders, bits of ,metal, etc., as the result of its use injournal boxes, and more or less,

dirty journal oil in a more or less viscous state. It is therefore quiteessentiahin the proper treatment of new waste, to remove therefromthelint and moisture thereof, and in the proper treatment of used waste, toremove therefrom its lint, moisture, dirt, bits of metal, etc., and

as much of its dirty oil as possible.

The present invention therefore has for its general object the provisionof an improved apparatus for and an improved method of treating suchfibrous waste, both new and old, to

effectively and efliciently remove therefrom substantially all of itsobjectionable content, including lint, moisture, dirt, bits ofmetal, etcand dirty oil.

A more specific object ofv the present invention is the provision ofimproved waste treating apparatusin the form of a single simple andinexpensive machine, with which are performed all of the steps of thepresent improved method, said method requiring for its performance aminimum handling of the waste and minimum amounts of time and labor.

Further objects of the present invention are in part obvious and in partwill appear more in detail hereinafter. The invention will be readilyunderstood from the following description thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a central verticalsectional view of the machine constituting the present improved wastetreating apparatus, the waste-receiving container of said machine beingshown in its lowered, rotatable position; Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofsaid machine, with a part of the casing thereof broken away to show saidwastereceiving container in its raised, non-rotatable position; and Fig.3 is a detail vertical sectional view of the operator-controlledmechanism for .efiecting raising and lowering of said wastereceivingcontainer, the plane of said view being at right angles to the plane ofFig. 1.

In the embodiment of the invention here illustrated, l represents thegenerally cylindrical casing of the machine, said casing being mountedupon suitable legs H to providespace therebeneath for a part'of thehereinafter described spindle rotating means. with the exception of abottom liquid-discharge opening i2,.with-which communicates avalve-controlled discharge pipe l3, said casing is of imperforatecharacter and therefore capable of receiving and holding av treatingliquid, such as lubricating oil. To heat the treating liquid suppliedthereto and/or to maintain said liquid in a heated condition, saidcasing is preferably provided with suitable heating means, the meanshere shown comprising steam coils l6 suitably arranged around the innersurface of said container.

' Centrally mounted in the base of said casing is a suitable bearingassembly 20, in which is rotatably mounted a vertically disposed.spindle 22. On the lower end portion of said spindle, which endprojects below the bearing assembly 20 and the base of said casing, issuitably secureda pulley adapted to be driven, through theinstrumentality of one or more belts (not shown), by an electric motoror other suitable power means (also not shown).

just above the bearing assembly 20, is secured a suitable screwpropeller 21, said propeller belng secured to said spindle for rotationtherewith at all times. Suitably mounted on the upper end portion ofsaid spindle, which end portion lies within the casing i0, is a'generally cylindrical waste-receiving basket or container, saidcontainer being so mounted on said spindle that it rotates therewithonly when actually connected thereto. For effecting such connection ofsaid container to said spindle, suitably operator-controlled meansisprovided, the construction. of which will be later described. I

The waste-receiving container here shown in cludes a perforatedbottomwali {I and a perfo-' rated side or peripheral wall 3|, theperforations of said walls being in the form of relatively small,closely spaced apertures through which .may freely pass the oil or othertreating liquid,

and all objectionable content of the waste transferred thereto, such aslint, dirt, bits of metal, etc. Suitably mounted in a centrally disposedopening 32, with which the container bottom wall 30 is provided, is avertically disposed hub portion 34, the elongated chamber of whichconstitutes a suitable socket for the reception of the upper end portionof the spindle 22, as shown.

The cover of this waste-receiving container is in two parts, there beinga marginal portion 36, of annular form and of imperforate character,welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper edge portion of thecontainer side wall 3|, and a central portion 31, of circular form andof perforate character, bolted or otherwise suitably secured at 40 inspaced relation to an lmperforate cover 42 with which the casing I0 isprovided, said casing cover being hingedly mounted so that it may bereadily swung upwardly to one side during loading and unloading of thecontainer with waste and during the step of supplying the casing illwith a treating liquid.

, The means for detachably connecting the waste-receiving'container tothe spindle 22, for r rotation therewith, may be of any suitable form.As hereshown, said means includes a vertically disposed eccentricdisc 45carried by and rotatable between a pair of apertured ears 45 with whichthe upper end of the hub portion 34 of said container is provided, suchmounting of said disc being effected by means of a cross pin 41extending through and suitably secured to said disc, such as by a setscrew 48, and having its projecting end portions extending through theapertures of said ears.

By connecting said disc to the spindle 22, a connection here-effected bythe use of a locking screw 50, as shown in Fig. 1, the waste-receivingcontainer is caused to rotate with said spindle, as will be readilyunderstood. To disconnect said disc from said spindle, and therebypermit said container to remain stationary during rotation of saidspindle, it is merely necessary to withdraw said locking screw from itsthreaded connection with said spindle, as likewise will be readilyunderstood. I Suitably mounted on the upper end of said spindle 2'2,such as in a marginally disposed annular groove, is a suitable thrustbearing 54, on which said eccentric disc 45 rests when disconnected fromsaid spindle, as shown in Fig. 2. During such periods of disconnection,the lookng screw 50 of said disc lies within a diametrically disposedpassageway with which said disc is provided, said locking screw beingprevented from escaping from said passageway by a suitable washer-likeabutment 56 secured at the outer end of the enlarged portion of saidpassage-.

way, as shown.

The function of the propeller 21, as will later appear, is to eflfect aforcible passage of two treating mediums up through the perforatedbottom wall 30 of the waste-receiving container and thence upwardlythrough the waste therein. In practicing the present method, hereinaftermore fully described, hot lubricating oil is first forcibly passedupwardly through said waste, with gon-' sequent agitation thereof. andtransfer to said oil-of an appreciable portion of the objectionablecontent of said waste. After removal of said oil and the objectionablecontent of the waste transferred thereto, currents of heated air arepassed upwardly through said waste, the elect of which is to'open up thewaste fibres, etc., and to vaporize any moisture remaining in the waste.

To assist the propeller 21 in effecting such passage of lubricating oiland air upwardly through the perforated bottom wall 30 of said containerand thence through the waste therein, a suitable bailie plate 60 isprovided for cooperation with said propeller. As here shown, said baiiieplate is of generally inverted, frusto-conical shape, being arranged insurrounding relation relative to said propeller and having its upperenlarged end portion suitably secured to two or more circumferentiallydisposed brackets 62 with which the casing III is provided. The openingat the lower and smaller end of said baflie plate has a diameterslightly less than that of the propeller 21, and the opening at theupper and larger end of said baflle plate has a diameter slightlygreater than that of the waste-receiving container, as clearly shown inFigs. 1 and 2.

To prevent the passage of oil and air. as the result of rotation of thepropeller 21, upwardly through the annular space 64 between the lowerend of the container sidewall 3| and the upper end of the baille plate60, said lower end of said container side wall and said upper end ofsaid baflle plate are provided with cooperating annular sealing strips55, inter-engagement of which is efiected by upward movement of saidcontainer. To efl'ect such upward container movement, it is merelynecessary to turn the eccentric disc 45 ninety degrees, from theposition shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, and this maybe conveniently accomplished by imparting the desired rotary movement toeither one of the two projecting ends of the cross pin 41, which pin issecured to said eccentric disc by the set screw 48.

As here shown, each of the two projecting ends of said cross pin 41 isprovided with a suitable socket 61 to removably receive a hex wrench orthe like, by the use of which the desired rotary movement can be readilyimparted to said pin. In a similar manner, the head of the locking screw50 is provided, with a suitable wrenchreceiving socket 68, to enablesaid screw to be readily moved inwardly or outwardly, depending uponwhether it is to be connected to the spindle 22 or disconnectedtherefrom.

When the waste-receiving container is in its,

raised position, as shown in Fig. 2, it is free of operative connectionwith the spindle 22 and therefore does not rotate therewith. This is theposition of said container during the steps of and the upper end of .thebaflle plate 60 is securely closed by the inter-engaging sealing strips65, so that the oil and the air forced upwardly by rotation of thepropeller 21 are compelled to pass through the perforated bottom wall 20of the waste-receiving container and thence upwardly through the wastetherein.

Inasmuch as the propeller 21 recirculates the oil through said waste,the extent of such recirculation depending upon the condition ofcleanlines of the waste being treated, it is quite advisable to removefrom the circulating oil as rapidly as possible and as much as possibleof the objectionable content of the waste transferred thereto. Althoughthe lint transferred to the oil cannot be removed therefrom by filteringmeans, as

. nular perforatedfilter plate is horizontally arranged at the upper endof the waste-receiving container, in bridging or spanning relationrelative to the annular space 12' between the side wall of thewaste-receiving container and the side wall of the surrounding casingIll. As here shown, said plate is mouhtedupon suitable circumferentiallydisposed brackets 14 with'which said casing is provided, and bolted orotherwise suitably secured to the inner edge portion of said plate is anannular sealing strip 16 for yieldingly engaging the container coverportion 36 when said container is in raised positiomas shown in Fig. 2.v

In practicing the improved method of the present application, the casingI0 is supplied with, proper quantity of lubricating oil, either new 0 orreclaimedoil, and preferaly in a heated condition, the oil beingsupplied to said casing by the use of any suitable means, such as asupply hose or the-like. The casing is preferably filled with oil to apoint just below the brackets 14 on Y which is mounted the filter screen10, and if the oil delivered to the casing is in an unheated condition,suflicient time should be given the steam coils l6 to effect properheating of said oil before treatment of the waste therewith begins.Usually, the oil delivered to the casing III is in a heated conditionand the steam pipes l6 there: fore function merely as a means formaintaining the oil in, such condition.

.After supplying the casing with lubricating oil, and with said 011- ina heated condition, the

waste to be treated is placed in the container provided therefor, saidcontainer being in its raised position, as shown in Fig. 2, and hencebeing free of operative connection with the spindle 22.

The next step in the present improved method is to-eilect rotation ofthe propeller 21, and this is accomplished by rotating the spindle 22 onwhich said propeller is rigidly mounted. Such rotation of said propellereffects a forcible passage of said hot lubricating oil upwardly throughthe perforated bottom wall 30 of said container and thence upwardlythrough the waste therein, said waste being violently agitated in saidoil, with consequent transfer to said oil of an appreciable portion ofthe objectionable content of said waste. Due to the use of the sealingstrips 5 and the baiiie plate 60, all of the oil forced upwardly byrotation of the propeller 21, is compelled to pass through saidcontainer and hence through the waste therein, as will be readilyunderstood. After passing upwardly through said container and saidwaste, the oil flows out-- wardly onto the filter screen 10, whichscreen collects an appreciable portion of the dirt, cinders, bits ofmetal, etc., transferred-to said oil from the waste. The filtered oilpasses down through said screen into the annular space 58 between thecontainer and easing side walls and thence back into the bottom of thecasing and such circulation of said oil, effected by rotation of thepropeller 21, is continued as long as desired, the condition ofcleanliness of the waste largely determining the duration of this oilflushing operation.

, The next step in the present improved method, after stopping therotation of thespindle 22 and hence that of the propeller 21, is toeffect the l3 to a storage reservoir, an oil reclamation plant or to anyother device or apparatus, as desired.

After removal of such oil from the casing ill, the operator lowers thewaste-receiving container and by the use of the screw 50 operativelyconnects it to the spindle 22 for rotation therewith. Rotation of saidspindle is then effected, with consequent rotation of the wastecontainer and the discharge from said waste of a very appreciableportion of thetreating oil therein, the oil removed from said wasteflowing out of the casing in through the outlet opening l2 and thedischarge pipe l3.

After such removal from said waste of as much as possible of saidtreating liquid, the waste is subjected to the drying andresiliency-restoring effects of heated air currents. the method, thewaste container is freed of its operative connection with said'spindle22 and is raised by means of the eccentric disc 45 to the position shownin Fig. 2. Rotation of the spincontainer, said waste may be pulled downtherefrom so that the passage of the air therethrough can bemoreeffective. v

It is to be understood, of course, that the oil and air treating stepsmay be. repeated, if desired, the'advisability of so doing dependingupon the condition of the waste being treated. Like: wise, the waste maybe treated, before being removed from the present apparatus, with othermediums than the two here mentioned.

a If desired, the waste may be supplied with a proper quantity oflubricating oil, for journal box use, before being removedfrom thepresent apparatus, said oil being added to' they waste, either whilesaid container is stationary or while it is rotating.

Further features and advantages of the present improved apparatus andthe present improved method will be apparent to those skilled in the artto which it relates.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for treating fibrous waste for journal box use, comprisinga casing for receiving and holding a treating liquid, means within saidcasing for heating theliquid therein, a perforated rotatable containermounted in said casing for receiving and-holding the waste to betreated, means in said casing and outside of said container foreffecting a forcible passage of said treating liquid through saidcontainer and hence through'said waste, with consequent transfer. tosaid liquid of at least some of the objectionable content of said waste,means for effecting the removal from said casing of the major portion ofsaid treating liquid, and means for rotating said container to removefrom saidwaste an appreciable portion of the treating liquid therein.

2. Apparatus for treating fibrous wastefor journal box use, comprisingat ca for receiv- For this part of said casing of the major portion ofsaid treating liquid, and means for rotating said container to removefrom said waste an appreciable portion of the treating liquid therein.

3. Apparatus for treating fibrous waste for journal box use, comprisinga casing for receiving and holding a treating liquid, a rotatablecontainer mounted in said casing'for receiving and holding the waste tobe treated having a bottom wall perforated throughout substantially itsentire area, means arranged below said container bottom wall foreffecting a forcible passage of said treating liquid upwardly throughsubstantially the entire perforated area thereof and thence through saidwaste, with consequent transfer to said liquid of at least some of theobjectionable content of said waste, means for effecting the removalfrom said casing of the major portion of said treating liquid, and meansfor rotating said container to remove from said waste an appreciableportion of the treating liquid therein.

4. Apparatus for treating fibrous waste for journal box use, comprisinga normally imperforate casing, a waste-receiving container arrangedwithin. said casing and having a, perforated bottom wall, propellermeans arrangedwithin said casingbeneath said container for effecting aforcible passage of a treating fluid through said perforated containerwall and thence through the waste in said container, and a generallyannular baiile plate carried by said casing and cooperating with saidpropeller means in effecting such forcible fluid passage through saidcontainer and said waste, the opening of said baifle plate at the upperend thereof being of greater cross dimensional f size than saidcontainer.

5. Apparatus for treating fibrous waste, for journal box use, comprisinga casing for receiving and holding a treating liquid, a waste-receivingcontainer rotatably mounted in said casing and having a perforatedbottom wall, means arranged within said casing, beneath said container,for effecting a circulation of said treating liquid through saidperforated container wall and thence through the waste in saidcontainer, and means within said casing for subjecting said liquid to acleansing effect during such circulation.

6. Apparatus for treating fibrous waste for journal box use, comprisinga casing for receiving and holding a treating liquid, awaste-receivingcontainer rotatably mounted in said casing and havingaperforated bottom wall, means ariii ranged within said casing, beneathsaid container, for effecting a circulation of said treating liquidthrough said perforated container'wall and thence through the waste insaid container, and filter means arranged between said container andsaid casing for' subjecting said liquid to a cleansing effect duringsuch-circulation.

'7. Apparatus for treating fibrous waste. for journal box use,comprising a liquid receiving casing, a waste-receiving containerarranged within said casing and having a perforated bot.-'

' therein.

tom wall, propeller means arranged in said casing beneath said containerfor effecting a forcible passage of said liquid through said perforatedcontainer wall and'thence through said waste, operator-controlled meansfor lowering and raising said container to respectively connect anddisconnect said container to a rotating means, and means engaged by saidcontainer when the latter is in its raised position and said propellermeans is in operation for subjecting said liquid to a cleansing effectand for exerting a controlling effect upon the direction of flow of saidliquid.

8. The method of treating fibrous waste for journal box use, comprisingthe step of placing the waste to be treated in a perforated containerarranged in a liquid-containing casing; the step of thereaftereffecting, while said container is stationary in said casing, a forciblepassage of said treating liquid upwardly throughout substantially theentire area of the bottom wall of said container and hence through saidwaste therein;

the step of thereafter removing from said casing,

while said container is stationary therein, at least the major portionof said treating liquids; and the step of thereafter rotating saidcontainer in said casing to effect the removal from said waste of anappreciable portion of the treating liquid 9. The method of treatingfibrous waste for journal box use, comprising the step of placing thewaste to be treated in a perforated container mounted in aliquid-containing casing; the step of thereafter effecting, while saidcontainer is stationary in said casing, a forcible passage of saidtreating liquid upwardly throughout substantially the entire area of thebottom wall of said container and hence through said waste; the step ofthereafter removing from said casing, while' said container isstationary therein, at least the major portion of said treating liquid;the step of thereafter rotating said container in said casing to effectthe removal from said waste of an appreciable portion of the treatingliquid therein; andthe step of thereafter effecting, while saidcontainer is in said casing and while said waste is not subjected to anappreciable packing or compressing eifect, the forcible passage of airupwardly through said container and hence through said waste.

10. Apparatus for treating the fibrous waste for journal box use,comprising a casing for receiving and holding a treating liquid, aperforated container mounted in said casing for receiving and holdingthe waste to be treated, means for moving said container in said casingbetween an upper stationary position and a lower rotatable position, aperforated cover for said container engaged thereby when said container.is in its .upper stationary position, means for effecting, ,when saidcontainer is in its upper stationary position, a forcible passage of thetreating liquid in said casing through said container and thence throughsaidwaste, with consequent transfer to said liquid of at least some ofthe objectionable content of said waste,means for enabling the majorportion of said treating liquid to be removed from said casing, andmeans for eflecting rotation of said container, when it is in its lowerrotatable position, to remove from said waste an appreciable portion ofthe treating liquid therein.

11. Apparatus for treating fibrous waste for journal box use, comprisinga casing for receiving and holding a treating liquid, an .imperforatecover for said casing. a perforated container mounted in said casing forreceiving and holding the waste to be treated, means for moving saidcontainer in said casing between an upper stationary position and alower rotatable position, a perforated cover for said container carriedby said casing cover and engaged by said container when said containeris in its upper stationary position, means for efiecting, when saidcontainer is in its upper stationary position, a forcible passage of thetreating liquid in said casing through said container and thence throughsaid waste, with consequent transfer to said liquid of at least some ofthe objectionable content of said waste, means for enablingthe majorportion of said treating liquid to be removed from said casing, andmeans for effecting rotation of said container, when it is in its lowerrotatable position, to remove from said waste an appreciable portion ofthe treating liquid therein.

12. Apparatus for treating fibrous waste for' journal box use,comprising a casing for receiving and holding a treating liquid, avertically disposed spindle structure rotatably mounted in said casing,a perforated waste receiving container loosely mounted on said spindlestructure in said casing, and means for releasably connecting saidcontainer to said spindle structure for rotation therewith, said meansincluding a vertically disposed rotatable disc eccentrically mounted onsaid container and adapted to be releasably connected to said spindlestructure, the eccentric mounting of said disc enabling said containerto be raised and lowered relative to said spindle by rotary movement ofsaid disc.

13. Apparatus for treating fibrous waste f r journal box use, comprisinga generally cylindrical casing for receiving and holding a treat ingliquid, a generally cylindrical perforated container mounted in saidcasing for receiving and holdingthe waste to be treated, said containerbeing of such size that a generally annularspace is provided between theside wall thereof and the side wall of said casing, means for verticallymoving said container in said casing between an upper position and alower position, means for rotating said container when it is in itslower position, means for effecting a flow of liquid in I said casingwhen said container is in its upper position; and liquid bafilemeans insaid annular space for en agement by said container when said containeris in its upper position, with consequent restriction of the flow oftreating liquid through said annular space when said container is in itsupper position. v

14. Apparatus for treating fibrous waste for journalbox use, comprisinga generally cylindrical casing for receiving and holding a treatingliquid, a generally cylindrical perforated container mounted in saidcasing for receiving and holding the waste to be treated, said containerbeing of such size that a generally annular space is provided betweenthe side wall thereof and-the side wall of said casing, means forvertically moving said container in said casing between an upperposition and a lower position, means for rotating said container when itis in its lower position, means for effecting a flow of liquid in saidcasingwhen said container is in its upper position, and upper and lowerliquid baille means in said annular space for engagement respectivelywith the upper and lower ends 'of said container when said container isin its upper position, with consequent restriction of the how of liquidthrough said annular space when said container is in itsupper position.

15. Apparatus for treating fibrous waste for journal box use, comprisinga casing for receiving and holding a treating liquid, a containermounted in said casing for receiving and hold ing the waste to betreated, said container hav-' ing a perforated bottom wallland being ofsuch size that a generally annular space is provided between the sidewall thereof and the side wall for effecting when said container is inits upper position, a forcible passage of said liquid upwardly throughthe perforated bottom wall of said container and through the wastetherein, a generally annular deflector surrounding said last named meansand cooperating therewith in effecting the forcible passage of saidliquid through the perforated bottom wall of said container, saiddeflector being of such size at its upper end that a generally annularspace is provided between said end and said container, and liquid bafflemeans carried by said deflector upper end for bafliing the space betweensaid end and said container when said container is in its upperposition.

16. Apparatus for treating fibrous waste for journal box use, comprisinga casing for receiving and holding a treating oil, a perforated con-'side wall of said container being spaced from the side wall of saidcasing with the consequent provision of an annular space therebetween,means arranged within said casing below said container for efiecting aflow of such oil through and around said container and through the wastetherein, and heating coils for said treating oil arranged in verticalseries in the annular space between the side walls of said casing andsaid container, with consequent restriction of the flow of oil throughsuch space and the eflective heating of such oil, thereby insuringsuflicient mobility of such oil to enable it to properly flow throughthe waste in such container. EDWIN S. PEARCE.

